If you have symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or nausea each time you eat a certain food, you may be “intolerant” of it, or unable to digest it properly .The most likely triggers are dairy products and cereals (such as wheat). Food intolerance is distinct from food allergy, which is less common but in some people can cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylactic shock.
Make an appointment to see your doctor if:
* You think you may be intolerant of wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats (gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease) or of milk and other dairy products (lactose intolerance)
* You have symptoms such as weight loss
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Elimination diet If you think you may have a food intolerance, take these steps to find the trigger.
* Keep diary for 2-3 weeks, noting what you eat and drink and how much, and when symptoms occur. (Symptoms can develop from a few hours to a few days after exposure to a trigger substance.)
* Exclude a suspect substance from your diet for a week or two. If symptoms return when you reintroduce the item, you may be intolerant of it.
* If you find a specific trigger, avoid it. However, if you think you are affected by a whole group of foods, such as dairy or wheat products, see your doctor first.
DRUG REMEDIES
Lactose supplements help to break down lactose in dairy foods. They are useful if you are lactose intolerant and find it difficult to limit your milk intake, or if you develop symptoms after having even small amounts of dairy products.
What you can do yourself
The following advice will help you identify and treat mild food intolerance; use it alongside any advice from your doctor.
* Try to identify the food causing your symptoms.
* If your doctor has diagnosed lactose intolerance, avoid dairy products. Try soya milk or other milk substitutes, which are now available in may supermarkets. Check for hidden lactose in foods such as biscuits. You may also wish to try a lactase supplement (see DRUG REMEDIES)
* If you are diagnosed as having gluten intolerance (celiac disease), cut out cereals, bread, pasta, cakes, and biscuits. Check for hidden gluten in processed foods such as ice cream and tinned soup; sweets; and some medicines. Many supermarkets and health food shops sell gluten-free pastas, breads, and other foods.
* Check labels on food packaging for the food or additive to which you’re intolerant. This may not always be obvious; for example, “casein” is milk protein, and “albumin” is egg white.
Seek further medical advice if:
* Your symptoms don’t improve after using the measures described above
* You develop any new symptoms, such as weight loss
Make an appointment to see your doctor if:
* You think you may be intolerant of wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats (gluten intolerance, also called celiac disease) or of milk and other dairy products (lactose intolerance)
* You have symptoms such as weight loss
PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Elimination diet If you think you may have a food intolerance, take these steps to find the trigger.
* Keep diary for 2-3 weeks, noting what you eat and drink and how much, and when symptoms occur. (Symptoms can develop from a few hours to a few days after exposure to a trigger substance.)
* Exclude a suspect substance from your diet for a week or two. If symptoms return when you reintroduce the item, you may be intolerant of it.
* If you find a specific trigger, avoid it. However, if you think you are affected by a whole group of foods, such as dairy or wheat products, see your doctor first.
DRUG REMEDIES
Lactose supplements help to break down lactose in dairy foods. They are useful if you are lactose intolerant and find it difficult to limit your milk intake, or if you develop symptoms after having even small amounts of dairy products.
What you can do yourself
The following advice will help you identify and treat mild food intolerance; use it alongside any advice from your doctor.
* Try to identify the food causing your symptoms.
* If your doctor has diagnosed lactose intolerance, avoid dairy products. Try soya milk or other milk substitutes, which are now available in may supermarkets. Check for hidden lactose in foods such as biscuits. You may also wish to try a lactase supplement (see DRUG REMEDIES)
* If you are diagnosed as having gluten intolerance (celiac disease), cut out cereals, bread, pasta, cakes, and biscuits. Check for hidden gluten in processed foods such as ice cream and tinned soup; sweets; and some medicines. Many supermarkets and health food shops sell gluten-free pastas, breads, and other foods.
* Check labels on food packaging for the food or additive to which you’re intolerant. This may not always be obvious; for example, “casein” is milk protein, and “albumin” is egg white.
Seek further medical advice if:
* Your symptoms don’t improve after using the measures described above
* You develop any new symptoms, such as weight loss
